Grating



June 1, 1937. w BATES 2,082,197

GRATING Filed March 25, 1933 2. Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY 7P M. 21,4

ATTORNEY June 1, 1937. w BATES 2,082,197

' GRATING Filed March 25, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' IN VEN TOR )1 TTORNEY Patented June 1, 1937 UNITE STATES attain GRATING Walter A. Bates, Gary, Ind., assignor to Beulah H. Bates, Gary, Ind.

Application March 25, 1933, Serial No. 662,707

13 Claims.

This invention relates to metal gratings which are used for open flooring, stair treads, platforms and for many other purposes.

The object of the invention is primarily to enable a grating to be made in a plurality of sections adapted to be assembled and secured together to provide a strong and rigid grating which will hold its shape and rigidity under heavy loads and the shocks and jars of general use, which will distribute a load over a considerable area of the grating, and which will maintain a plane top surface under all ordinary conditions of use throughout the area of the grating where sections adjoin as well as where the bars cross.

Another object is to enable the grating sections to be assembled on the job in a flooring or other structure and so shaped that any section may be used either side up and matched at its edges with other sections to form a continuous flooring with the bars of the sections registering and nesting.

Another object is to enable the main bars and cross bars to be interlocked securely and rigidly so that each bar will maintain its position and shape and will not become distorted or permit the grating to distort under the conditions of service to which gratings of this kind are sub jected.

Another object is to unite the main bars and cross bars in a novel manner to form a permanent rigid structure in which every bar is'securely held and braced against movement relative to the other bars to provide a strong and substantial grating capable of withstanding heavy and rough usage.

Another object is to reduce the Weight of the grating by reducing the section of some or all of the bars and without impairing the strength of the grating.

Another object is to support each section .of the grating at its four sides with the ends of the bars matched with the ends of the bars of adjacent sections similarly supported to provide and maintain a smooth flooring or other structure composed of a plurality of sections and all rigidly locked together.

In the accompanying drawings I have illuse trated selected embodiments of the invention wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one form of grating section embodying the invention with parts of other sections assembled therewith.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the invention arranged in a flooring.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a portion of one cross bar shown in Fig. 1 and as it appears when first blanked.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the cross bar shown in Fig. 3 expanded with the main bars arranged in relation to the cross bar and shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. r

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing the cross bar of Fig. 5 compressed upon the main bars which are shown in section- Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another form of grating section with parts of other sections shown in broken lines in assembled relation therewith.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a portion of one cross bar shown in the full line grating section of Fig. 8 and as it appears when first blanked.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the cross bar shown in Fig. 9 expanded with the main bars arranged in relation to the cross bar and shown in section. a

Fig. 11 is an elevation showing the cross bar of Fig. 10 compressed upon the main bars which are shown in section.

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective View of an end. portion of one of the main bars shown in Figs. 8-11.

,Figs. 13 and 14 are detail perspective views showing modified forms of the end portions of the cross bars shown in Figs. 8-11.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4 to 'Lthe grating comprises a plurality of main bars I and cross bars 2 spaced apart as desired. The main bars are provided with notches Ill in their edges and these notches are preferably formed by punching and displacing the metal and producing the side projections H at the notches, Fig. 5. The main bars are also preferably formed with concave sides l2 to reduce the weight. This does not reduce the strength of the grating because the main bars are braced by the cross bars as hereinafter described. The cross bars may also be formed with concave sides if desired, as shown in Fig. 1.

Each cross bar is cut and slit so that it can be expanded to receive the main bars and then be compressed snugly upon the main bars in oppositely disposed notches therein to interlock the bars solidly and rigidly. Referring to Fig. 4, the cross bar 2 is blanked to provide openings 3 which correspond substantially in top and bottom edges of the main bars and the cross bars lie in the same planes. 7 Each cross bar is slitted to provide intermediate load distributing members 5 and substantially triangular load distributing members 6 at the sides of the main bar receiving openings 3. The intermediate load distributing member at the left of an opening 3 extends from the top of the opening to the bottom of the next adjacent opening and the intermediate load distributing member at the right of the aforesaid opening extends from the bottom of the opening to the top of the next adjacent opening. One of the load distributing members 6 at the left of an opening 3 extends from the top of the opening to the bottom of the next adjacent opening and is integrally connected with the lower end of the intermediate load distributing member and also forms a wall of the adjacent opening and is integral with the marginal edge at the top of the cross bar between the openings. The other load distributing member 6 at the left of the opening .is integrally connected with the upper end of the intermediate load distributing member at the top of the opening and forms a wall of the opening and is integrally connected with the lower marginal edge of the cross bar between the opening and the next adjacent opening at the left. The parts of the cross bars are the same as above described whichever edge of the bar is uppermost.

Each cross bar after being punched and slitted as shown in Fig. 4 is expanded as shown in Fig. 6 in a substantially zigzag form in cross section with the top and bottom marginal edges in substantial vertical alinement; the top and bottom load distributing members 6, 6 are inclined to the vertical but are spaced apart in parallel relation and the intermediate load distributing members 5 are almost in horizontal position. This expansion of the cross bars enlarges the openings 3 so that the main bars I may be readily inserted therein, after which the cross bars are compressed upon the main bars to restore them to their original flat shape as shown in Fig. 4 with the marginal edges seated in the notches of the main bars.

When a plurality of main bars and cross bars have been assembled as described and a loadis applied above any main bar (referring to Fig. 7) the force is transmitted through the main bar to the lower marginal edge of the cross bar which tends to bend downwardly thereby'tensioning the lower substantially triangular load distributing members of the cross bar at each side of the main bar. Since these lower substantially triangular members are connected at their upper ends with the upper ends of the intermediate load distributing members the pull of the substantially triangular members applied to the intermediate load distributing members will put the intermediate members under compression; and-since the lower ends of the intermediate members are connected with the lower ends of the upper substantially triangular load distributing members the compression of the intermediate members will tend to tension the upper substantially triangular members. This transmission of a load applied to any main bar and cross bar will extend through the adjacent substantially triangular load distributing members and intermediate load distributing members to the top marginal edge of the cross bar and thence to the adjacent main bars. Further distribution. of the load will carry the load through the next substantially triangular load distributing members and intermediate load distributing members to the next main bars and so on until the load is distributed over a number of main bars and cross bars.

Referring to Figs. 8 to 14, the grating consists of main bars 8 and cross bars 9. The cross bar 9 is blanked to provide openings l3 and I 4 connected by a narrow neck l5. In the form shown the openings 13 are larger than the openings I4 and the openings [3 and I l alternate lengthwise of the cross bar adjacent the opposite edges thereof. The cross bar is slitted to provide the intermediate load distributing members It, the upper substantially triangular diagonal load distributing members I? and the lower substantially triangular diagonal load distributing members I8. The openings and slits are located within the marginal edges of the cross bar and the cross bars are expanded to receive the main bars, Fig. 10, and are compressed on the main bars, Fig. 11, as heretofore described. The intermediate load distributing members snugly abut the main bars and provide braces therefor which compensate for the reduction in cross section to lighten them.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to 11 the end portions of the main bars and cross bars are provided with corner recesses in the sides thereof so that ends of cross bars of other sections may be nested therewith. At one end of a bar a recess 19 is provided on one side and at the lower corner, and a recess 20 on the other side and at the upper corner, but at the other end of the same bar the position of the recesses is reversed. The ends of the bars of one section may be nested with the ends of the bars of another section to form, in effect, continuous bars. If the spacing of the bars will permit, main bars may be nested with main bars or with cross bars, and with either side of each section up. This enables a flooring to be made of a plurality of sections with the end portions of the bars nested to provide continuous bars, in effect, and a compact interlocked structure.

The end portions of the bars may be recessed as shown at if and 22, Figs. 13 and 14, and slitted at 23, and the corners 24 formed by the slits may be twisted or bent sidewise in opposite directions without deflecting the top and bottom edges of the end portions of the bars from their original plane. When the end portions are formed according to Figs. 13 and 14 they may be assembled with other bars in the manner shown in Fig. 8 and the edges of one bar will form a continuation of the edges of the bar with which it is interlocked without deviation.

The edges of alternate cross bars in a section are in reversed position, that is to say one cross bar will have its upper edge shown in Fig. 9 up, and the adjacent cross bar on each side will have the bottom edge shown in Fig. 9 up in the assembled section.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 11, when a load is applied at A the force is transmitted through the main bar 8 to the lower marginal edge of the cross bar 8 which tends to bend downwardly, thereby tensioning the diagonal load distributing members i 8 on either side of the main bar. These diagonal load distributing members 18 are connected to the outer ends of the intermediate load distributing members l6 and tend to pull the intermediate members in compression against the main bar 8. Compressing the intermediate load distributing members upon the main bar tends to tension the upper diagonal members I! which connect with the upper marginal edge of the cross bar .at the adjacent main bars. Thus the load applied at A is carried primarily by the main bar directly under it and is distributed through the tension and compression members of the cross bar to the adjacent main bars, and so on to the main bars on both sides.

When a load is applied at B, Figs. 8 and .11, the force is not transmitted through the main bar 8 to the lower marginal edge of the cross bar. as heretofore described, but it tends to compress the upper diagonal load distributing members I! against the adjacent main bars; and this tends to tension the intermediate load distributing members It and compress the lower diagonal load distributing members I8 and distribute the load to the bottom edge of the cross bar and then through the truss action heretofore described to main bars on both sides.

Since the cross bars are in reverse position alternately it will be readily understood that a load moving across the grating in any direction will be' alternately distributed according to A and B. If the load should pass crosswise of cross bars and between two main bars or crosswise of main bars between two cross bars it will be distributed through a combination of A and B. Under all conditions the force of the load will not be concentrated in a spot beneath the load but will be distributed over a the load.

The invention provides in both forms of grating for distributing a load through main bars and cross bars over a considerable area spreading in all directions from beneath the load and this prevents sagging or distortion and failure of any of the bars and provides an efficient grating which will not work loose in use but which will retain its rigidity and give long service. As before stated, the grating sections are reversible and have the same appearance, strength and safety when installed either side up.

The notches ID in the main bars in both forms of the invention are preferably as deep as the marginal edges of the cross bars so that when the cross bars are seated in the notches the edges of the main bars and cross bars will lie in the same planes. The size of the side projections II will depend largely upon the thickness of the cross bars and the depth of the notches and when the cross bars are compressed upon the main bars they will embed in the projections as shown at I in Figs. 7 and 11. This embedment of the cross bars in the projections of the main bars supplements the engagement of the cross bars with the notches in the main bars to interlock the bars rigidly together.

considerable area beneath The grating sections are made in stock sizes and shapes or in special sizes and shapes for particular uses, and they are generally rectangular shapes; and my invention includes means for supporting the sections at the four sides thereof and for holding them in place and in relative position against dislodgement in use.

The grating is supported upon a structure including beams 25 preferably made of channel iron as shown. Cross beams 26 of T form are laid on the supporting beams 25 at spaced intervals to receive the grating sections therebetween. The

web 21 of each cross beam projects upwardly be tween adjacent sections and is of the same height as the bars of the sections so that its upper edge will lie in the same plane-with the upper edges of the bars of the sections. The ends of the web of each cross beam rest upon the supporting beams 25 and the ends of the head 28 of the cross beam are cut loose from the web and are bent downward to form flanges 29. Since the cross beam thus rests upon the supporting beams and abuts the inner sides of the supporting beams the cross beam will be supported on the supporting beams and will be held against endwise movement thereon.

' The grating sections and the cross beams are rest thereon, and the supporting beams forming" the supports for the other sides of the sections. These clamps comprise jaw bars which are riveted or otherwise secured to the cross beams at spaced intervals. The jaw bars comprise a bar or plate 30 having its ends 3| bent upward to form jaws and the jaw bar is of sufiicient length so that the jaws will project upward on the inner side of the outer bars of adjacent sections and close to said bars, Figs. 2 and 3. Clamp bolts 32 extend laterally through the web of each cross beam headed in one direction and clamp bolts 32 extend laterally through the web headed in the otherdirection. Each clamp bolt carries a nut 33 which bears against the web of the cross beam and the bolt itself engages an outer bar of a grating section. 'Ihe clamp bolts are arranged as shown in Fig. 2 with the bolts 32 of one cross beam arranged in clamping action in opposition to the bolts 32 of the next adjacent cross beam. The bolts bear against the outer bars on opposite sides of the same grating section and clamp these bars against the jaws 3| of the jaw bars to lock and hold the grating sections rigidly in place upon the cross beams and in fixed relation to each other and the whole flooring in a rigid solid structure upon the supporting beams.

I have shown the invention in selected embodiments which I consider desirable for commercial use but I do not thereby intend to restrict the invention I specifically thereto and reserve the right to make any changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as may be neces-' sary or desirable for different installations or for other purposes and within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A grating comprising a plurality of main bars and cross bars, said cross bars having openings between their marginal edges to receive the main bars, said main bars having notches in their marginal edges to receive. the marginal portions of the cross bars, said cross bars being slitted between the openings therein to provide intermediate members extending substantially longitudinally of the cross bars and connected at the opposite ends thereof to other members defined by the slits and disposed adjacent the opposite marginal edges of the cross bars, movement of the longitudinal edges of said cross bars throughout their length away from each other so positioning the intermediate members that they extend substantially transversely of said cross bars whereby the said other membersare moved from their normal position and openings in said cross bars are enlarged and the main bars may be passed therethrough, compression of the longitudinal edges of the'cross bars throughout'their length toward each other after the main bars are passed through the enlarged openings moving'said intermediate members I back into positions wherein they extend substantially longitudinally of said cross bars and disposing the-marginal portions of said cross bars in the notches in the edges'of'the main bars.

2. A grating comprising ,a, plurality of main bars and cross barssecured'together, said cross bars being slitted to divide the parts thereof ,between the, main bars into a plurality of load distributing members; the slits being: positioned to provide a load distributing member adjacent each of the longitudinal marginal'portions of the cross bars between each adjacent set of main bars and other load distributing members intermediate the load distributing members adjacent the marginal edges, the intermediate load distributing members having the ends thereof respectively connected to thegload distributing members adjacent the marginal :edges, the loaddistributing members cooperating one with another to distribute a load impressed on one of said main bars to-the adjacent main bars. z a

3.,A grating comprising a plurality of main bars and cross bars secured together, said cross bars being slitted to divide the parts thereof between the main bars into a plurality of load-distributing members, the slits being positioned to provide a load distributing member adjacent each of the longitudinal marginal portions of the cross barsbetween each adjacent set of main bars and other load distributing members intermediate the load distributing members adjacent the marginal edges, the intermediate load distributingmembers having the ends thereof respectively 'con-' nected to the free ends of the load distributing members adjacent the marginal edges whereby said load distributing members are connected with one another in zigzag formation, the load distributing members cooperating one with another to distribute a load impressed. on one of said main bars to the adjacent main bars. V

4. A grating comprising a plurality of main bars and cross bars secured'together, said cross bars being slitted to' divide the parts thereof between the main bars into a pluralityof loaddistributing members, the slits being positioned to provide a load distributing member adjacent each of the longitudinal marginal portions of the cross bars between each adjacent set of main bars and other load distributing members intermediate the load distributing members adjacent the marginal edges, the intermediate load distributing members having the ends thereof respectively connected to the load distributing members adjacent the marginal edges, the load distributing members cooperating one with another .to distribute a loadimpressed on one of said main bars to the adjacent main bars, said main .bars having notches-in the longitudinal edges thereof to receive the marginal portions of the cross bars whereby the top longitudinal edges of all of said bars lie wholly within a single plane and the bottom longitudinal edges of all of said bars lie wholly within another plane to, provide smooth surfaces on the grating. t t

7,5. A grating comprising a plurality of main bars and cross bars secured together, said cross bars being slitted to divide the parts thereof between'the'main bars into a plurality of load distributing members, the slits being positioned to provide a load distributing member adjacent each of the longitudinal marginalportions of the cross bars between each adjacent set of main bars and other load distributing members intermediate the load distributing members adjacent the marginal edges, the intermediate load distributing members having the ends thereof respectively con- A distributing member adjacent the other longitudinal marginal portions of the cross bars.

6. A grating comprising a plurality of main bars and cross bars secured together, said cross bars being slitted to divide the parts thereof between the main bars into a plurality of load distributing members, the slits being positioned to provide a load distributing member adjacent each of the longitudinal portions of the cross bars, each of which load distributing members extends from one main bar to the adjacent main bar, said slits also being positioned to provide other load distributing members intermediate the load distributing members, said other load distributing members having the ends thereof respectively connected'to the load distributing members adjacent the marginal edges, the load distributing members cooperating one with another to distribute a load impressed on one of said main bars to the adjacent main bar's.

[7. A grating comprising aplurality of main bars and cross bars secured together, said cross bars being slitted to divide the parts thereof between the main bars into a plurality of load distributing members, the slits being positioned to provide an outer load distributing member adjacent each longitudinal marginal portion of the cross bar, each of said outer. load distributing members extending from one'main bar to the adjacent main bar, said slits also being positioned to providean intermediate load distributing member between the outer load distributing members, the intermediate load distributingmembers hav-' ing the ends thereof respectively connected to the inwardly disposed ends of the outer load distributing members whereby. the load distributing members intermediate a pair of main bars are connected one to another in zigzag formation, the interconnected load distributing members cooperating one with another to distribute a loadimpressed on one of said main bars to the adjacent'main bars.

8. A grating comprising a plurality of main bars and cross bars secured together, each cross bar being slitted between each pair of main bars to provide intermediate and substantially trian-' gular load distributing members, the intermediate member extending between the substantially triangular members from the top of one main bar to the bottom of the other main bar of the pair.

9. A grating comprising a plurality of main bars and cross bars secured together, each'cr'oss bar being slitted between each pair of main bars to provide intermediate and substantially triangularload-distributing members, the intermedi-- to provide intermediate and substantially triangular load distributing members, the intermediate member extending between the substantially triangular members from the top of one main bar to the bottom of the other main bar of the pair, the upper substantially triangular member extending between the upper edges of the main bars and alongside one main bar, and the lower substantially triangular member extending between the lower edges of the main bars and alongside the other main bar.

11. A grating comprising a plurality of main bars and cross bars secured together, each cross bar being slitted between each pair of main bars to provide intermediate and substantially triangular load distributing members, the intermediate member extending from the middle of one main bar to the middle of the other main bar of the pair, and each of the substantially triangular members extending from one main bar to the other.

12. A grating comprising main bars and cross bars secured together, ends of some of said bars projecting beyond the other bars, and said ends being recessed on opposite sides and slitted longitudinally between said recesses and the slitted parts being oppositely twisted at the slits without disturbing the original position of the top and bottom edges of the slitted ends.

13. A grating comprising main bars and cross bars secured together, both ends of some of the bars projecting beyond the other bars and opposite ends of the projecting bars being slitted longitudinally substantially midway between the longitudinal edges of the projecting bars, the corners formed by said slits being twisted sideways in opposite directions without deflecting the top and bottom edges of the bars.

WALTER A. BATES. 

